Equipment for underwater photography and related uses



Dec 22, 1964 D. J. BYERs 3,162,107

EQUIPMENT FOR UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY AND RELATED USES Original FiledApril l, 1954 United States Patent C 1 claim. (ci. 95-11) This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in equipment for underwaterphotography and related uses. Particularly, the invention is directed tonew and useful means for protecting and facilitating operation ofequipment of the vtype of cameras and photographic instruments underconditions encountered by a swimmer or diver.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 829,928,filed July 27, 1959, now Patent No. 3,026,784 which latter is acontinuation of my application, Serial No. 420,338, filed April 1, 1954,now abandoned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover for use inprotecting equipment of the type of cameras and photographic instrumentsthat will not only protect the photographic equipment from water butthat will also inclose a body of entrapped air, sufficient in volume toprovide the buoyancy necessary to cause the entire assembly in event ofaccidental release from the hands of the operator, to rise in the waterand float on the surface for ready recovery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a specialexterior finder which will be clearly visible to the operator of thephotographic equipment when under water.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide anarrangement whereby the special exterior finder and the covered cameraare maintained in fixed relative position.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide meansespecially adapted to meet the needs of the free swimming or scubadiver, for protection of photographic equipment.

Further objects of the invention include overcoming certaindisadvantages in presently available underwater photographic equipment.Other objects and advantages according to the present invention willbecome manifest in the course of the following disclosure.

It is a matter of note that the recent development of improved types ofdiving gear has greatly increased the capacity of a diver to move freelyfor prolonged periods of time in an underwater environment. Thispossibility has arisen very largely as a result of the development ofunderwater breathing apparatus, of the type exemplified by the AqualungApparatus of this Vtype enables a human being to descend in the Water toconsiderable depths, unencumbered with heavy diving gear and free fromdependence upon a surface supply of air. The pioneer investigations inthis field have stimulated widespread interest, and have given rise toan entire new field of activity including recreational occupations andspecialized professional military, commercial, and scientificernployments.

Essentially the Aqualung comprises a cylinder charged with compressedair, a tube and mouthpiece to deliver air to the diver and a valve,responsive to the pressure of the Water, which regulates the pressure ofthe air received by the diver. Additional articles of equipment whichmay be used by the diver are buoyancy regulating weights, mask orgoggles, swimming ilippers and protective clothing. It may also be notedthat the rise of interest in this form of activity is reected by anexpansion in swimming Patented Dec. 22, 1964 ICC and diving as a sport,and as a method of scientific exploration. The details in regard to thisbackground require no amplification inasmuch as they form no part of thepresent invention, and are cited merely to indicate the utility andadaptability of the invention.

Proceeding in accordance with my invention, I have found that it ispossible to provide an article which greatly facilitates the carryingout of underwater photography, and which to a notable degree obviatesdisadvantages Vhitherto encountered.

Whereas the several features and novel improvements which characterizethe present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claimsannexed to and forming a part of this specification, for betterunderstanding of the invention, and the advantages and specific objectsthereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter wherein there are illustrated and described certain preferredembodiments of the invention.

FIG. l is a perspective view of a cover composed of a yielding portionand a fixed portion whereon is mounted a camera of conventional design,and whereon also is mounted a finding device.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken at a vertical plane passing through thecenter of the camera lens and the center line of the finding device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention whereinthree windows are provided in fixed relationship to the camera.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a further form of the invention wherein afloating window is provided.

FIG. 5 is an exterior view on reduced scale showingthe entire cover.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views showing the manner of closing one end ofthe flexible or yielding portion of the cover.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a cover comprising ayielding portion 20 and a rigid portion 21. The yielding portion ispermanently closed at one end in the manner shown in FIG. 5 at 23, andis open at the opposite end, as shown in FIG. 5 at 22. It may be notedthat the relative positions of the closed and open ends may be reversed,or if preferred, both ends may be open. The flexible portion thus formspart of the cover, and is in thefnature of a bag. The latter is providedwith a cutaway portion 24 forming an opening in the front side of thebag, in the form illustrated. It may be noted that if the yielding orbag-like portion of the cover is formed from transparent material, itmay not be necessary to provide same with a cutaway portion.

Attached to the flexible portion of the cover shown in FIG. l, is therigid portion 21. As shown this comprises a right angled bracket towhich the camera is xedly attached, the bottom part or platform partforming a support for the camera and for the attaching means 26 (shownin FIG. 2), and the vertical part 27 constituting the inner pane of awindow.

Attached to the vertical part of the bracket-window is an exterior pane2S, affixed by means of bolts or rivets 29. The inner and outer panes ofthe window are thus firmly compressed upon the edges of the cut-awayportion 24 of the exible portion of the cover, thereby providing a watertight seal. Thus also, the iiexible portion and the rigid portion areconsolidated into a single protective cover or envelope for the camera.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. l, there is aflxed to thedixed portion of the cover, by means of the bolts or rivets 29, a finder30, which extends outside of the cover, and which consists of an eye 31and cross-wires 32 mounted in a frame. This `finder enables the operatorto orient the camera toward the object to be photographed.

In FIG. 3, there is shown a form ot the invention wherein the flexibleportion 20 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,with the exception that three windows are provided instead of one. Inthis form a bracket 42 is provided which extends as shown on four sidesof the camera, in a form approaching a square. The upper window 33 andtherear .window 34 areconstructed in the same manner asthe front windowwhich virtually reproduces the construction of the window shown in FIGS.1 and 2. An exterior finder may be provided having an eye mounted at 35and a forward cross-wire mounted at 3,6, although the exterior findermay be dispensed with in this modification for reasons that Will'bedescribed. Except for the change in means of attachment, the exteriorfinder is identical with that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and'is not furtherillustrated in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4, there is shown a modification provided with al rearwardlypositioned floating window 37, which is not rigidly attached to thebracket.

Referring generally to the kinvention as shown in FIGS. l, 2, 3, and 4,the flexible portion 20 is composed Aof any suitable thin, pliant,Water-resistant material such as rubber or flexible plastic material.The bracket and window elements are composed of transparent material andfor this purpose I have yfound transparent rigid plastic sheet 1materialto be suitable. While glass may ybe employed, especially for the outerpanes 28, I prefer a clear transparent stiff plastic sheet material forthis purpose.

While any suitable means may be employed for closing the open `end oftheyielding portion of the cover, I have found the method illustrated inFIGS. 5 through 9 to be satisfactory. As shown, the lips 38 and 39 arebrought together in a' manner shown in FIG. 6 Thereafter a fold 4G ismade at the end. 'Following this a double bend in the fold is made asshown in FIG. 8, and broughtsmoothly together as shown in FIG. 9. Aclamp (not shown) `of conventional design may be then attached to holdthe folds in permanent sealed contact.

The platform part of the bracket can be provided with any suitable meansfor attaching the camera. While if it is described to adapt the coveronly to one camera, I have found that a single perforation drilled inthe platform Will serve satisfactorily, the camera being attached by aconventional setV screw having a knurled knob, for purpose ofaccommodation of other types or shapes of camera, slots cut intheplatform, or other adjustable means may be employed.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Referring to the drawings,'the yielding portion 20, together with thefixed portion 21 forms an envelope that is waterproof and thatcompletely surrounds the camera. The latter is inserted through the openend 22 of the envelope and afxed to the platform 25 by knob 26. Toreceive the aiiixing means, holes or slots are provided in the platform,whereby the camera may be suitably aligend. When the camera has beenfixed in place, the open end .of the envelope is closed tightly, asshown in FIGS. 5 through 9. The envelope surrounds the camera looselyand defines a space larger than the space occupied by said camera andcontains after closing a certain amount of entrapped air.

The device may be constructed to accommodate a 'camera of single design,or it may be constructed to accommodate cameras of different types. Inany event, the construction of the rigid portion should be such as tofacilitate use of the optical elements of the camera. The camera lensnormally will be substantially centered behind the window, and thefinder may be aligned with the line of sight from the eye of theoperator to the object to be photographed. The placement of the windowwith respect to the portions of the camera to be brought underobservation is within the skill of the art. In the drawings, theapparent slight departure from the operating line of sight is anaccommodation of the drawings, and obviously is not designed as alimitation on the construction.

As previously described, the yielding portion is composed of relativelythin sheet material, preferably but not necessarily transparent, waterand moisture-resistant, tough and pliant. For this purpose rubber issuitable, or one of the numerous plastic materials available on themarket. This portion interposes a barrier against ingress of moistureand water, but does not prevent the operator of the camera from reachingthe controls, grasping, and moving same at will. There is full ease ofmovement, and accessibility. The thin material is brought into directcontact with the part of the camera grasped vby the operator, andinterposes no more impediment to handling than would be experienced ifthe hand of the operator were encased in a thin glove.

If desired, in order to provide control of the entrapped atmosphere, ahumidity controlling means such as a moisture absorbent material may besuitably contained in the envelope or a heating element may befurnished.

The air-.entrapping space in the envelope serves the purpose ofinflating the envelope and thus maintaining a freely movablerelationship of the envelope to the `camera insofar as the flexibleportion of the envelope is concerned. The operator .consequently canquickly and without difliculty orpreadjustment, reach any part of thecamera at will.

The air entrapped in the envelope serves the further purpose ofconstituting a pneumatic body which, in event of loss of the cameraunderwater, will float the camera to the surface where it can kbereadily recovered. It `will be readily understood .that .the volume ofentrapped air may be apportioned to the weight of the equipment. Since,according to the invention, the envelope fits loosely, it may be no-t.only individually proportioned to suit the particular camera size, butany particular size envelope will accommod-ate a certain variation incamera size, and further, the envelope may be adjusted to containvarious volumes of air. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,the photographer has merely to insert the camera through the opening 22,and after aftixing` the camera in position, .close the opening (FIG. 6),and fold the lips of the envelope (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9). During thisprocess suitable hand pressure on the body of the envelope prior toclamping shut the lips, will force out any desired amount of air, to anextent that the remaining air entrapped in the envelope will suffice forpurposes of flotation.

The volume of air required for flotation of the assembly may be mosteasily determined by the user by simply tightening-the clamp andimmersing the assembly in water. For construction purposes those skilledin the art can readily calculate the necessary size of the cover fromthe weight of the equipment the cover is intended to contain. The sizeof the cover should be-such as to provide a body of inclosed air thevolumeof which when converted to weight based on `the known density ofwater, should somewhat exceed the weight of the contained equipment-inbrief, should be sufficient to provide buoyancy.

While I have found ordinary, atmospheric, unconditioned air to servesatisfactorily as the gaseous content of the envelope, it is entirelyfeasible to maintain dehumiditied or conditioned air, or any other inertor relatively inert gas or atmosphere within the envelope, that may bedesired, for long submersion or other purposes,

As many windows may be provided as desired. In FIGS. 1 and 2, I haveillustrated -a form wherein but one window is provided. In FIG. 3, threewindows are provided, a front window through which the picture may betaken, a rear Window for observation through the finder, and a topwindow for observation of the setting of the controls. The latterembodiment con-templates a ringlike plastic transparent mounting openleft and right to provide accessibility. In FlG. 4 a floating rearwindow is shown, which has the advantage of adjustability to variousdesigns of cameras, the window being movable in any direction, withinthe scope of operating orientation.

As hereinbefore described, the xed mounting portion provides suchlimitation upon the free relationship between the camera and theilexible portion as may be desired. Also, the rigid portion providesmeans for mounting exterior controls if desired, as for example, thefinder means illustrated in FIGS. l and 2. The latter thus may bemounted in fixed relationship to the camera. The advantage of thisprovision of special externally disposed finder means will be understoodwhen it is considered that the normally provided finder of the inclosedcamera is rendered non-visible by the interposition of the cover. Theexternally mounted sighting device according to the present invention,on the lother hand, will be visible to the photographer and since it itsxed in relationship to the camera will enable the operator to accuratelysight and properly orient the camera. The dimensions of the nder meanspreferably should be proportioned so that the frame portion 3i) willapproximately outline that portion of the lield of View that coincideswith the picture frame of the photographic film.

From the herein description it follows that the lixed portion may beprovided with transparent areas which preferably may be established byforming the interior part of the rigid portion of a single integral unitof trans parent material. The external panes which clamp the edges ofthe openings in the flexible portion lto the interior mount, may be ofthe same material, although. my invention contemplates the use of adifferent material if desired. There `are available a number of suitablestiir light-transmitting plastic materials which are well adapted to theconstruction of the fixed portion or portions of the envelope. As willbe undersood by those skilled in the art, preference is for material ofsucient mechanical strength, and transparency. Glass may be used.However, it is contemplated to employ any type of light transmittingmaterial for the windows that may be preferred for particularoperations, as for example, light filteringV glass or plastic to modifythe quality of the light entering the envelope.

From the foregoing description and illustrations of embodiments of myinvention, further details within the soo-pe thereof will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, or may be further developed. i have set forththe aforesaid examples by way of illustration and not of limitation, andwhat l claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

A cover for use in protecting equipment of the type ol camera andphotographic instruments, and the controlsthereof, from the deleteriouseffects of water, comprising a yielding portion and rigid portion, saidyielding portion being formed of thin, pliant, water-imperviousmaterial, said rigid portion being formed of relatively stiff material,and comprising a window and an internally disposed platform rigidlyattached to said window, said yieldingT portion being attached to saidwindow by a Water-tifht seal about the periphery of said window, saidplatform being provided with means for mounting said equipment thereon,said yielding portion constituting a cover loosely surrounding saidequipment and said controls, said cover boing normally out of contactwith said equipment, except lat said platform mounting, said cover beingwater-tight and air-tight, said yielding portion normally extending outof Contact with and away from said cam-era, said cover being of a sizein proportion to said equipment to contain a body of entrapped air, saidyielding portion being movable with respect to said camera whereby andwheretlirough the controls of the kcamera may be reached and manuallyoperated, said Reterences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Cobb Ian. 9, 1951 Byers Mar, 27, i962

